A man in his 50s is in a serious condition after being dumped on his head while body surfing at Omaha Beach.
Emergency services were called to the beach just before 2pm today following reports the man was suffering spinal injuries.
Northern region surf life saving duty manager Faron Turner said the man was pulled from the water about 500 metres south of the flagged area at the beach.
"He was body surfing in shallow waters and was dumped on his head."
Mr Turner said the injured man's wife, along with a couple of their friends, dragged him out of the water.
"He wasn't able to walk out himself."
He said the lifeguards ran to his aid and rolled him onto his back.
The man was breathing and stable when he was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital.
Earlier today, a woman was surfing at the same beach when her face hit the ground, possibly breaking her nose.
She was transported to hospital via an ambulance.